Comments on: Reminiscences of a Raleigh Boy, Part 1: Blount Street

By: Chris M.

Chris M. — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:40:24 +0000

Love your series documenting a bygone era in Raleigh. The first time I visited Raleigh was on a school field trip when I was in 4th grade, way back in 1989…we parked in one of the many Blount st. surface lots and I remember, even as a 9 year old, marveling at the Heck-Andrews house and its tower. It was in pitiful shape at that point, all one color, paint peeling and the 1st floor windows boarded, but it intrigued me. I moved here in 1998 to attend NCSU and made it a point to drive past every so often…I was extremely happy when the exterior restoration occured a few years back. Still my favorite structure in Raleigh and one of my favorite homes anywhere.

Do you have any more pictures of some of these vanished Blount St. and surrounding area homes? I’d love to see some more of what once was, even if it does make me angry at the reckless destruction that occurred so many years ago.

By: Karl

Karl — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:02:00 +0000

Thanks for the feedback Anonymous…Glad to know you enjoy the old photos I took so long ago! I do indeed have some shots of “The Castle” before it was torn down. The building you see in the background of the Haywood House is actually an annex to the Castle, which is just to the right, out of the frame of this shot.

You may want to check out my other post on this blog, Reminiscences Part 2 @ http://goodnightraleigh.com/2008/06/reminiscences-of-raleigh-boy-part-2

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:03:00 +0000

Just posted above and looked at the pictures again, this time enlarged.

Is that “The Castle” in the background on the right of the Haywood House?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0000

I too am a Raleigh boy, but not quite as old as you.

Although "The Castle" was torn down when I was about 7 or 8, I don't remember it and I've only seen very old pictures of it.

Do you have any of it from the 1960s when you were taking your photos?

Thanks. I really enjoyed both the photos and your recollections.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:04:00 +0000

Very cool pictures and the contrasting images are a visual treat.

You have to love the color present in the sixties shots. “Kodachrome, give us those nice bright colors.”

By: Leo

Leo — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:49:00 +0000

Really looking forward to having Blount St. be that fantasyland of great history and beautiful houses. Thank you, Karl, for sharing your photos.

..oh right, John, nice photos too. (I kid I kid)